COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team (29-25, 7-15 Big Ten) downed Michigan (26-24, 13-9 Big Ten), 7-3, in the teams’ series opener on Thursday to extend its win streak to seven games. The seven game win streak, which began against Iowa on May 7, ties the Buckeyes’ longest streak of the season, when they also won seven consecutive games from March 5-17.
Game Recap
- Trey Lipsey was the first batter up for the Buckeyes in the bottom of the first and he reached base on a Michigan error. Matthew Graveline then drew a walk to put two runners on. With two outs on the board, Henry Kaczmar doubled to center field, scoring both Lipsey and Graveline to give Ohio State a 2-0 lead.
- A solo homerun from the Wolverines in the top of the second cut the Buckeye lead in half, 2-1.
- Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning. Joey Aden led off with a beautifully placed double that landed right in the corner of right field on the in-play side of the foul pole. A single from Graveline advanced Aden to third base and put Buckeye runners on the corners. Graveline then swiped second to get into scoring position. Marcus Ernst was next at the plate and he singled through the right side, sending Aden home to put the Buckeyes back ahead by two, 3-1. Cole Andrews was next at bat and he doubled right down the left field line, driving in one run to extend the Ohio State lead, 4-1. Ernst then scored on a wild pitch to put OSU up by four, 5-1.
- A two-run homer from Michigan in the top of the sixth plated two runs but the Buckeyes remained ahead, 5-3.
- Aden was walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth, followed by a single to center field from Lipsey. Graveline reached on a fielder’s choice and Aden moved up to third base. Graveline once again stole the bag at second and Andrews was walked shortly after to load the bases. Kaczmar drew a bases-loaded walk to score Aden and put the Buckeyes ahead by three, 6-3.
- With one out on the board in the bottom of the seventh, Caden Kaiser singled through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kaiser advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to give Ohio State the four-run lead, 7-3.
- Josh Timmerman came out to the mound for the seventh inning, and he struck out the side, catching two batters looking and one swinging.
- Landon Beidelschies came in to close things out for Ohio State in the ninth. He fanned two of three faced, icing the 7-3 win for Ohio State.
Buckeyes by the Numbers
- Kaiser led the Buckeyes at the plate with two hits and Kaczmar led the team in RBIs with three.
- Aden and Graveline each scored two runs. It is a career-high for Aden.
- Graveline led the Buckeyes in stolen bases with two.
- Jonah Jenkins (6-4) earned the win on the mound. He struck out four and gave up three runs on six hits in 5.2 innings pitched.
- The relief combination of Nolan Clegg, Timmerman and Beidelschies gave up just one hit in 3.1 scoreless innings.
Up Next
- Game two of Ohio State’s series with Michigan will take place on Friday, May 19. Game time has been moved up to 5:00 p.m. due to expected inclement weather. Fans can enjoy postgame fireworks following the game.
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